An estimated 210,000 people migrated to California to escape the despair of the Dust Bowl via Route 66. Certainly in the minds of those who endured that particularly painful experience, and in the view of generations of children to whom they recounted their story, Route 66 symbolized the "road to opportunity." There were many warning signs along the route to prepare motorists for serious situations that could arise during their journey. Route 66 cut through the Mojave Desert which could prove hazardous for motorists. In fact more often than not travelers would form caravans to protect themselves from many of the hazards. Many cars found themselves falling victim to the extreme heat. So motorists were encouraged to carry water with them on the journey and avoid travelling this stretch during the heat of the day. Often along the road there were warning signs such as last gas station for the next fifty miles, reminding motorists to fill up now. The prophets of the Old Testament served much the same purpose as these warnings along route 66. They stood in the gap between God and the people faithfully proclaiming His message regardless of the cost. Today we are going to take a good look at these messengers of God.
I. Important things for us to understand about the prophets.
A. The prophets were God’s representatives to the people.
1. When the Hebrew people would sin they would approach God through a priest who would offer prayers and sacrifices on their behalf.
2. When God desired to communicate to the people, He would do so through a prophet.
3. The word translated “prophet” seems to have the idea “called” as its first emphasis: God takes the initiative, selects, summons, and sends the prophet.
4. God brought his servants the prophets into a unique reality of fellowship and closeness with Himself, with the blessed result that their characteristic cry “Thus says the Lord” meant exactly what it claimed.
B. Prophets not only informed the people of future events, they shared God’s message with them.
1. It is sometimes said that prophets are not foretellers but forthtellers. As far as the Old Testament is concerned, however, the prophets are forthtellers (declaring the truth about God) by being foretellers (predicting what God will do).
2. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was “to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government.”
3. For the most part, this proclamation was by direct word of mouth, by verbal preaching. The prophets were men of the word. They believed their words (which were God’s words) were far more than a sound addressed from one person to another; the word was really like a messenger sent by God
4. There were three ways God told the people to test if a prophet was really sent by Him.
a. Did what the prophet say lead people to walk according to God’s will?
b. Did what the prophet say actually come to pass?
c. Does the message of the prophet encourage men to sin or tolerate sin?
C. The message of the prophets was mainly concerned with the sins of the people and God’s righteousness.
1. There are two main themes that are found in all the prophetic books.
a. The need of the people to repent.
b. God’s promise of blessing if the people would turn back to Him.
2. The prophets were not always bearers of doom and gloom, there are times when the prophets would proclaim God’s hope for the people.
3. God always made it clear to the people if they returned to Him, He would forgive their sins and comfort them.
D. The ministries of the prophets fell into any one of three periods in Jewish history.
1. The pre-exilic period: from the dividing of the kingdom to the invasion of the Babylonians.
2. The exilic period: from the exile of the Jews in Babylon to their return to Jerusalem.
3. The postexilic period: the return to Jerusalem that occurred in three phases under Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah.
II. An overview of the prophets of the Old Testament.
A. Prominent prophets mentioned who do not have book named after them.
1. There were more prophets in the Bible than the sixteen who have books named after them.
2. The two best known of these prophets were Elijah and Elisha.
3. There were several lesser known prophets: Nathan, Gad, Jehu and Shemaiah.
4. There were also three prophets mentioned who were women: Miriam, Deborah and Huldah.
B. Why are some prophets major and others minor?
1. Major and minor have nothing to do with the importance of a particular prophet.
2. There are actually two factors taken into account when determining if a prophet is considered major or minor.
a. The length of the prophet’s book.
b. Major Prophets spoke more about the coming of the Messiah.
3. The evidence points to the fact that the prophetic books were written by the person whose name appears in the title.
4. The book of Jonah opens up a window into the story of this prophet’s life.
5. The Book of Daniel is unique: the first half tells his story while the second half of the book contains his prophesies.
6. Isaiah and Jeremiah write mostly of God’s message with a brief autobiography.
7. The Minor Prophets mainly recorded only the word they received from the Lord.
C. The prophets, where they ministered and when.
1. The prophets who ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel were Jonah, Amos and Hosea. (pre-exilic)
2. There were eight pre-exilic prophets who ministered to the southern kingdom of Judah: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
3. Ezekiel and Daniel provided hope to the exiled Jews living in Babylon.
4. When the Jews finally were allowed to return to Jerusalem: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi tried to help the people rebuild their relationship with God.
5. The prophets managed to make the people uncomfortable in their sin, but they responded negatively more often than not taunting, torturing and even killing these messengers of God.
D. Several characteristics of the prophets seen in their writings.
1. They were uncompromising individualists.
2. They were men who stood alone, fully conscious of God’s divine calling in their lives.
3. They were men of rugged determination.
4. They were men of prayer and great integrity.
5. They were outspoken critics of the people’s sinful behavior.
6. They were zealous for things of the Lord.
7. They were men who saw and wrote of the coming of the Lord.
III. Two principles to remember about the prophets.
A. When a prophet spoke a warning from God it often caused fear in the hearts of the people.
1. Unlike the prophets of old we often tame God’s message just a bit for the sake of not making anyone too uncomfortable.
2. We need to read and be taught all of God’s Word including those passages that deal with sin and Hell.
3. When we are able to truly examine our lives according to God’s Word not only will it sensitize our lives to God’s will, it will build within us a healthy respect of Him.
4. Contained within the books of the Prophets are many lessons that we can learn because many of the sins addressed by the prophets are still common today.
B. When the prophets revealed the will of God people were challenged to follow it.
1. The prophets painted a panoramic picture of what God was doing in the world, but not only what He was doing but what He would do in the future.
2. This picture was designed to not just draw the people into a closer relationship with God but to give them a hope for the future.
3. Likewise, God’s Word presents a picture for us today and it is so important for us to be sensitive to what He is saying.
4. God desires to show us what He is doing in the world today and challenge us to become a part of it.
5. The prophets remind us that God is willing to go to great lengths to communicate His truth to us.
Listen to the story of this street preacher from Karl Menninger’s book, “Whatever Happened to Sin.”
On a sunny day in September 1972, a stern faced, plainly dressed man could be seen standing still on a street corner in the busy Chicago Loop. As pedestrians hurried by on their way to lunch or business, he would solemnly lift his right arm, and pointing to the person nearest him, say loudly the single word “Guilty!” Then without any change of expression, he would resume his stiff stance for a few moments before repeating the gesture. Then, again, the inexorable raising of his arm, the pointing and the solemn pronouncing of the one word “Guilty!”
The effect of this strange accusatory pantomime on the passing strangers was extraordinary, almost eerie. They would stare at him, hesitate, look away, look at each other, and then look at him again; then hurriedly continue on their ways. One man, turning to another who was my informant, exclaimed: “But how did he know?” No doubt many others had similar thoughts. How did he know, indeed?
“Guilty!” Everyone guilty? Guilty of what? Guilty of over parking? Guilty of lying? Guilty of arrogance and excessive pride toward the one God? Guilty of unfaithfulness? Guilty of evil thoughts?
